Reactions of metal-metal quintuple bonds with alkynes: [2+2+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions

Abstract

High five! The quintuply bonded molybdenum amidinate 1 reacts with two equivalents of 1-pentyne through a [2+2+2] cycloaddition reaction to give the first examples of the benzannulated product 2. The C4Mo2 rings exhibit aromatic character. Treatment of 1 with internal alkynes afforded the 2:1 and 1:1 [2+2] cycloadducts, which are mechanistically associated with the formation of 2. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.